Beauty Pageant Delayed to Next Year

Sulaimaniyah, (AKnews) – A beauty pageant that was expected to be held this year has been postponed to next year. The pageant organizers say they want to survey the public so that they can hold a successful beauty contest.

The pageant that was expected to be held in Sulaimaniyah – Kurdistan’s second city – requires better assessment and preparations before it could be held, said an official.

“We are very primitive in this area, therefore we need the experience and expertise of other people and other nations before we can proceed,” said Abbas Abdulrazzaq, Sulaimaniyah culture and arts director.

“We will listen to public opinion as to how to contest should be held so that we can consider those opinions alongside international criteria required for a beauty pageant with a commitment to our culture.”

Abdulrazzaq told AKnews that another factor behind the delay was the unrest caused by protests in Sulaimaniyah earlier this year.

In February, protest erupted against the regional authorities calling for employment, better living conditions and an end to corruption and nepotism. 10 people were killed in the protests and over 200 were injured as the demonstrations turned violent and clashes broke out between protesters and security forces.